Chapter 104
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Holy Kingdom's Representatives
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(4)
6.
Ian and Laurea entered the classroom.
Meeting the eyes of the two.
Ullan wore a nostalgic expression.
'Brings back old memories.'
It was only natural.
Not only had he reunited with comrades from his past life, but now they were even taking classes together.
On the other hand, Noa had a subtle look on her face.
This was a situation that hadn't existed at all in the original story.
'Holding an exchange event with Elloden Academy, and moreover, two of the seven heroes visiting—none of that happened in the original.'
Of course, she wasn't overly surprised.
From the moment the Abyss Rift had opened, she'd already anticipated that things wouldn't follow the original plot exactly.
'Then why did they come here?'
Saintess Laurea and Holy Knight Ian.
Both were named figures holding true heavyweight status within the Holy Kingdom. For them to send such people, there had to be some hidden agenda.
'The most likely guesses right now are...'
There were two in total.
First, the Abyss Worshipper attack incident.
Second, they'd obtained information about the Abyss Rift opening and come to investigate it.
There hadn't been any other events that would warrant the Holy Kingdom's involvement.
'Either way, they won't get in the way.'
After all, with the Abyss as a common enemy, their goal would be gathering information on it too.
Around the time he'd finished speculating.
Professor Miel spoke up again.
"For reference, Student Laurea would normally be assigned to the second-year class, but at Elloden Academy's request, she's been placed in the first-year class."
After adding that explanation.
His gaze swept over the back of the classroom.
"Now, where should the two of them sit...?"
Somewhere good, ideally.
Next to a student who could become a close friend and show them around campus would be best. As he scanned the students' faces with that in mind.
"Professor."
Suddenly, Ian spoke up.
"Could we choose our own seats, by any chance?"
"No issue with that. Do you have a preferred spot?"
"Yes. I'd like to sit next to her."
The moment Professor Miel finished asking, Ian pointed toward the window side as if he'd been waiting.
Seeing where the straight-pointing finger indicated, Professor Miel asked back with a surprised look.
"Noa Darshen? Do you two know each other?"
"No, not at all."
He lightly shook his head.
Then Ian flashed a bright smile.
"Truth is, it was love at first sight."
The moment the unexpected words ended.
A few female students let out short screams.
Some girls flushed red and made a fuss, while others looked back and forth between Ian and Noa with eyes full of disbelief.
Noa herself was just as flustered.
'Still...'
Honestly, it felt pretty good deep down.
Ian Marcus was one of the top five most handsome male characters across the entire original story.
It wasn't every day someone like that publicly confessed to you, so her heart fluttered a bit.
But then.
A voice poured cold water on the moment.
"That's a lie."
"Total lie."
It was Ullan and Ivela.
The instant Ian claimed love at first sight with Noa, they denied it in unison without missing a beat.
Meanwhile, Noa looked baffled.
"What? Why?! Love at first sight can totally happen!"
"Noa, you're... kinda suspicious, you know?"
"S-Suspicious?!"
"Yeah. Kinda gloomy too. Oh, I mean first impressions. Not now."
Ivela, who'd landed the jab, belatedly realized her slip and tried to gloss over it. But Noa was already wearing a shocked expression.
Then Ullan chimed in.
"Ivela's right."
"Ugh, even you, Ullan?"
Noa asked back with a pout.
But this wasn't teasing or made-up—it was a denial based on solid fact.
Ullan, who had spent a long time with Ian in his past life, knew his unique tastes and preferences better than anyone.
'In that sense...'
Noa didn't fit Ian's type.
Not just her, either.
No one in this classroom—or the entire Arsen Academy, for that matter—matched Ian's ideal type. He could say that with certainty.
That's why he'd called it a lie.
"Understood. Then you sit next to Noa. As for Student Laurea next..."
"I've decided where to sit too."
After answering a step ahead.
Laurea lightly stepped forward.
Almost every male student's gaze in the classroom locked onto her.
Students near her path sighed in disappointment, while those in the back lit up with anticipation.
A moment later.
Her footsteps finally stopped.
Right next to Ullan.
"Hello."
She gave a slight bow in greeting.
Then Laurea brushed her turquoise hair back. With an alluring eye smile, she continued.
"We met briefly yesterday, right? Remember me?"
"I do."
"Really? Hehe, good."
She covered her mouth as she laughed.
Then she pressed on.
"We only exchanged greetings briefly, but still, I feel more at ease with someone I'm a little familiar with. So..."
She hesitated a moment, then tapped Ullan's desk. Flashing another eye smile, she shyly smiled.
"May I sit next to you?"
"......"
But Ullan didn't answer. He just stared at her curiously.
He had reason to.
Because her demeanor now was completely different from their first meeting in his past life.
When fighting Abyss monsters.
Ullan's hero party had rescued the isolated Holy Knight Ian from the battlefield in the continent's northeast, then joined up with Saintess Laurea.
And back then, upon first seeing Ullan, Laurea had immediately frowned and said:
"What is this? A porter?"
An utterly blatant rejection.
It wasn't just that.
Her eyes, voice, and every expression dripped with intense disgust.
After hearing the full story from Ian later, her reaction grew even fiercer.
"What? A hero who passed the trial? Ha, then I'm out. I'd rather quit than be lumped in with a barbarian like that."
Ullan hadn't hidden his displeasure at her rudeness either. But even before him, someone else had gotten angry at Laurea first.
The Sword Princess, Ivela.
She'd vented on Ullan's behalf and had a heated argument with Laurea right there. Recalling that, Ullan glanced at her again.
'Compared to back then...'
She seemed like a different person entirely.
This level of warmth. Of course, he knew this wasn't her true nature.
Meanwhile.
Perplexed by the lack of response, Laurea awkwardly spoke up again.
"Um, hello? Ullan?"
"......?"
"Can I sit next to you?"
"Sure."
Ullan nodded, snapping out of his reminiscence.
What? If you're just going to agree right away, why stay silent? She looked puzzled, then suddenly seemed to realize something.
"Ah, were you wondering why I chose this seat and pondering it?"
"No, nothing like that."
"Whew, guess I have no choice. It's a bit embarrassing, but I'll tell you."
Still doesn't listen, huh.
As Ullan thought that.
Suddenly, Laurea pressed close beside him.
Close enough to feel her breath.
She brought her lips to his ear and whispered softly, for his ears only.
"......Actually, same reason as Ian."
With that brief whisper.
She covered her face shyly, like a girl in love.
Ullan just shook his head.
"Don't lie."
"Huh?"
His unexpected reply left her stunned.
But only for a moment—she frantically waved her hands.
"No, I really...!"
"No way."
His response carried firm conviction.
Laurea was genuinely flustered by the decisive answer. Had he really seen through her? As that thought flashed through her mind.
"I don't mind you sitting next to me."
Ullan moved his lips.
And spoke in a low tone.
"No need to explain why. I'm not curious. But if you want to build trust, no more lies from now on."
"......"
Laurea clamped her mouth shut.
Neither affirming nor denying.
But the look in her eyes toward Ullan had changed slightly.
Where before there'd been no particular emotion, now strong interest gleamed there.
As if she'd spotted some fascinating creature.
"Alright, got it."
A moment later.
She shrugged, as if accepting his advice.
"Anyway, looking forward to getting along."
She ended with a bright smile.
Around the time their conversation wrapped up, Professor Miel was explaining the exchange event details.
"This exchange event divides into three main parts: joint classes, friendly mock battles, and finally, a tour of the Mana Spring."
He drew a large calendar on the blackboard.
Then explained step by step.
"First, joint classes mean attending lectures together. Elloden students can freely audit any class they want."
He added that, at the professor's discretion, they might join Elloden students for practicals or simple tests.
"Second is the friendly mock battles."
As the name implied, for camaraderie.
The format: Arsen and Elloden each select twelve students per grade, then hold mock combats in a designated venue.
Similar to the mock battle Arsen had held before.
"Lastly, no need to explain the Mana Spring tour."
The freshmen had all experienced it already.
As he finished all explanations.
Ding! Dang!
The bell rang from the plaza outside the classroom.
Signaling the end of homeroom.
"We'll end homeroom here today."
His explanation had just wrapped up too, so Professor Miel turned to leave. But then, as if remembering something, he looked back at the students.
"Noa, and Ullan."
"Yes?"
"You two show the new students around campus. Students Ian and Laurea, ask them if you have questions."
"Got it."
"Will do."
Ian and Laurea smiled brightly.
Noa nodded too, and only then did Professor Miel leave the classroom, seemingly satisfied.
A moment later.
Suddenly, Ian turned to Noa.
"Have you eaten yet?"
"Ah, no."
"Perfect. Shall we eat together then? Chat a bit. I heard there's a special room here and reserved it."
The proposal barely ended.
When Noa startledly asked back.
"J-Just the two of us?!"
"Haha, of course we're all going together."
Ian burst out laughing.
As if to say what are you talking about.
Noa scratched her cheek awkwardly. Then the quiet Laurea added.
"If it feels awkward, you can invite a few friends too."
The moment her words ended.
Several students glanced their way.
Probably eager to join. But none approached rashly.
Because of Ullan.
'He feels kinda distant.'
The moment she took in the scene.
Laurea's eyes sparkled. She'd realized Ullan was floating apart from the class.
'If I target that...'
Maybe I can win some favor?
As she coolly assessed the plan's potential.
Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice rang in her ear.
"Mind if I join too?"
A clear voice laced with strong power.
She whipped her head around reflexively, to find a girl with light golden blonde hair. The one who'd been next to Ullan before Laurea arrived.
"And you are...?"
"I'm Ivela Elead."
It was Ivela.
After the simple introduction, she fixed Laurea with eyes blazing like wildfire.
Her gaze burned with intense emotion.
Through her Insight Eyes, Laurea instantly recognized it.
'Jealousy?'
Ivela harbored strong jealousy toward her.
Laurea was baffled.
She couldn't recall doing anything jealousy-worthy. Then Ullan spoke up abruptly.
"Ivela's my friend."
"Friend?"
"Yeah, a precious comrade."
The moment Ullan answered.
Ivela's expression melted away.
The jealous fire dimmed bit by bit. Seeing that, Laurea grasped their relationship.
'Ah, are they that kind of couple?'
If so, it explained why Ullan hadn't fallen for her confession—and why Ivela was jealous.
'Then I'll need to tweak the plan.'
After quickly deciding.
Laurea smiled brightly.
"Sure. Let's go together, Ivela."
"Yeah. Thanks for inviting me."
The two girls clasped hands with smiles.
But their eyes didn't smile at all.
As the odd handshake continued. Suddenly, a visitor arrived at Class 3.
"Ullan, homeroom over?"
A wide-brimmed hat symbolizing a witch.
The girl with silver hair and golden eyes: Dilia. She'd approached unnoticed and grabbed Ullan's hand.
"If over, let's go eat."
"No, I..."
Sorry, but I have prior plans.
Ullan meant to say that. But someone else spoke first.
"Dilia Arpen?!"
The unexpected one: Laurea.
Her eyes wide, she stared at Dilia with clear surprise.
Then greeted her warmly.
"Wow, never thought I'd run into you here. How long has it been?"
As if they knew each other well.
Dilia, however, did not.
Hiding behind Ullan, she eyed her warily.
"You know me?"
"Aw, you don't remember? That hurts."
"......Don't."
"I'm Laurea. Laurea Ro Sharfel. Ring any bells?"
Laurea. Laurea.
Chewing the name over, Dilia's eyes suddenly widened. As if recalling a long-forgotten memory.
"Saintess candidate Laurea?"
"Phew, finally. Yes. Though now I'm the next Saintess."
A smile played on Laurea's lips.
As if delighted that Dilia had remembered her, even late. Meanwhile, watching Ian asked curiously.
"Someone you know, Senior?"
"Yes. When I was young, I went to Arpen Duchy with my master as part of a delegation. We hung out a few times then."
This was something even Ullan recalled.
In his past life, Laurea had mentioned knowing Dilia right after meeting her.
'But...'
She hadn't been this thrilled back then.
Just acquaintances by face, and Dilia had reacted similarly. As he wore a puzzled look.
"But something's off."
"Hm? What?"
"You weren't like this before."
"......"
The moment Dilia finished.
Laurea's shoulders twitched.
But the agitation was brief. She quickly smiled brightly.
"Come on, of course I'm different from when I was a kid. Personality changes as you grow up."
"......Is that so?"
"Yes. You're the same as ever, though. That choppy way of speaking, and your body..."
As her gaze drifted downward.
Laurea suddenly shut her mouth.
"My body?"
"Ahem! Nothing."
"What nothing?"
"Don't get too down. I read in a book that it's mostly genetic."
"What are you looking at?"
Dilia furrowed her brow.
Laurea pretended otherwise and changed the subject, while Dilia pressed on relentlessly.
Watching the scene.
Noa inwardly marveled briefly.
'Never imagined I'd see this.'
Ullan, Ivela, Dilia.
Plus Ian and Laurea.
Five heroes already gathered in one place.
'Of course, only Ullan's passed the Hero's Trial so far...'
Still, for future heroes to assemble this quickly was plenty amazing.
In the original plot, they'd meet no sooner than after the Abyss Gate opened.
As she observed the five heroes with wonder. Suddenly, Ullan spoke to Laurea.
"Anyway, when do we head to the cafeteria?"
"Ah, sorry. Got excited reuniting with an old acquaintance and lost track..."
She gave an awkward laugh.
Then promptly stood.
"Let's go now. Oh, Dilia too, of course."
Right after her words.
The five future heroes who would face the Abyss clutched their hungry stomachs and headed to the student cafeteria.
25. I've Come to Deliver Good Words